NYC Health + Hospitals/Coney Island Marks Significant Milestone in Construction of New Tower as Part of Superstorm Sandy Recovery Efforts
New 350,000 square-foot tower will include a new elevated Emergency Department, a surgical suite, a full-suite of diagnostic and imaging services, a labor-and-delivery suite, behavioral health beds, and more The structure, which is the largest part of the $922 million hospital campus renovation to be built after Superstorm Sandy, is expected to open in early 2022
Feb 27, 2020
NYC Health+ Hospitals/Coney Island CEO Svetlana Lipyanskaya today joined public health system administration, construction workers, community members, and staff to celebrate the final steel beam that will be raised atop the hospital’s new, state-of-the-art, flood resistant, 11-story tower. Funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the new 350,000 square-foot tower will include a new elevated Emergency Department, a surgical suite with eight operating rooms, a full-suite of diagnostic and imaging services, including CT scanner, MRI, and interventional radiology, a labor-and-delivery suite, 64 behavioral health beds, and a clinical laboratory equipped with the latest technology. The structure, which is the largest part of the $922 million hospital campus renovation, is expected to open in early 2022. Other parts of the extensive campus renovation, including the construction of the hospital’s new entrance off of Ocean Parkway, are expected to be completed spring 2023.
“As the de Blasio administration builds the future of health care for all, today’s construction milestone at NYC Health + Hospitals/Coney Island marks an important point in the journey,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Dr. Raul Perea-Henze. “The new tower will provide high-quality services with state-of-the-art technology to communities in Brooklyn and beyond, and is central to our vision of health care for every New Yorker.”
“This is an exciting moment for the Coney Island community as we continue to rebuild after Superstorm Sandy,” said NYC Health + Hospitals President and CEO Mitchell Katz, MD. “As devastating as Sandy was, it’s allowing us the opportunity to rebuild stronger than ever and provide Brooklynites the highest-quality of care possible. We thank everyone who has contributed resources – capital, time, and their vision, to help us reach this milestone.”
“NYC Health + Hospitals/Coney Island provides critical health care to over 900,000 south Brooklyn residents, as well as patients from Staten Island and Queens,” said NYC Health + Hospitals/Coney Island CEO Svetlana Lipyanskaya. “Growing up near Coney Island, I’ve seen this hospital transition and grow into the vital community pillar it is today. This structure will continue to help us meet our goal of providing state-of-the-art care to our diverse patient population.”
“NYCEDC is proud to support NYC Health + Hospitals/Coney Island and to have led the design and construction efforts to deliver their new health care center,” said NYCEDC President and CEO James Patchett. “The new facilities are built with high-quality, sustainable and resilient materials, ensuring the community has reliable access to health care services. These critical upgrades will provide valuable resources and comfort to visitors and patients for years to come.”
Additionally, the new tower will incorporate services from the hospital’s main building, which had to be evacuated and closed for several months after Superstorm Sandy flood waters reached knee-high levels in the ground level emergency room. The new, resilient hospital campus will be able to offer continuous access to high-quality, comprehensive acute care, emergency services, primary care and specialty services to south Brooklyn residents.
“The new NYC Health + Hospitals/Coney Island tower is indeed cause for celebration. We have to invest in and expand our public hospitals, and ensure they can withstand future floods and storms. There is nothing more important than the health and well-being of the community, and access to world-class hospitals is vital. Congratulations to NYC Health + Hospitals/Coney Island on this tremendous milestone,” said State Senator Andrew Gounardes.
“This is a great achievement for NYC Health + Hospitals/Coney Island, and it is proof that the hospital has not only recovered from the devastation of Sandy, but has progressed to a whole new level of care that will take the hospital into the future,” said Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz. “Under the leadership of CEO Svetlana Lipyanskaya, NYC Health + Hospitals/Coney Island is at last fulfilling its promise to become a 21st century, state-of-the-art medical facility that is fully equipped to address the long- and short-term health care needs of south Brooklyn residents.”
“I’m thrilled to be able to congratulate everyone at NYC Health + Hospitals/Coney Island on this exciting milestone,” said New York City Council Member Carlina Rivera, Chair of the Council’s Committee on Hospitals. “My hope is that the completed construction of this state-of-the-art tower serves as an example of our commitment to ensuring we’re able to provide uninterrupted quality care to New Yorkers in all corners of all five boroughs, regardless of how climate change effects our City.”
“Securing our hospitals for future storms is a key part of becoming a more resilient city. NYC Health + Hospitals/Coney Island serves neighborhoods that were severely impacted by Sandy. While there are still massive infrastructure improvements needed for those neighborhoods, having a resilient hospital prepared for the next storm is huge for the wellbeing of local residents,” said Council Member Justin Brannan.
“My mother grew up just four blocks away from NYC Health + Hospitals/Coney Island,” said Council Member Kalman Yeger. “It is wonderful to see this well-thought, resilient redevelopment of a Brooklyn institution, which has literally given life to so many of our neighbors. With the installation of this final beam, we’re approaching the final stretch of a long journey. I’m grateful to FEMA for investing in Brooklyn, and to Senator Chuck Schumer, whose fierce advocacy made this happen.”
Click here to see the artistic renderings of the new Coney Island hospital building.